By SPTRAVIS from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Source: Farmers Almanac
By laidback racing from Charleston, SC
Have you always wanted to grow beautiful roses but can't find the extra garden space? Are there varieties you want to try that are not hardy to your zone? Do you wish you had greater ability to move color to where you need it throughout the growing season? Growing roses in containers can solve all of these gardening problems and more. Roses grow best in full sun (8-10 hours per day). Because heat (too much) and moisture (too little) can affect their ability to produce flowers, the size of the container you choose and the material it is made from require important considerations.
For example:
Unless you want to grow miniature roses (which do fine in 10 to 12 inch pots), select a container that is at least 15 to 16 inches in size for florabundas and small hybrid teas, and containers 18 inches or more for large hybrid teas and tree roses. Whatever container you choose, it should drain freely.
Soil: A good mixture for container roses contains equal parts commercial sterile potting soil, compost, and aged manure. Add in a cup or two of perlite to encourage good drainage. Because container roses require frequent watering, many gardeners find that mixing in a soil additive for moisture retention is also helpful. These are made up of small crystals that, when exposed to water, expand to form a gelatinous mass. As the soil dries the crystals shrink and slowly release moisture back into the soil.
Planting: Plant your container roses at the same depth you normally would outdoors. For bareroot roses, place the graft union about 1 inch below the soil surface in cold climates and above the soil in warm regions. Roses transferred from pots should sit at the same height they were growing in their nursery containers. Containers should be filled with soil so that ultimately the plants end up 1-2 inches below the pot's edge. After about 3 years, container roses may become root bound and need re-potting to the next largest size pot. This is also a good time to inspect and trim the roots, and refresh the soil to eliminate the buildup of fertilizer salts.
Watering: Moisture levels for container roses should be monitored closely. Like most container plants, they prefer a good soak to light, frequent waterings. Insert your index finger into the soil to test moisture levels. If the top 1-2 inches feel dry, water the roses until water drains freely out the bottom of the pot. In warm weather daily watering may be necessary.
Fertilizing: Roses are heavy feeders. For healthy growth and beautiful blooms, feed roses a liquid organic rose fertilizer twice a month (granular once a month) throughout the growing season. Too much nitrogen will result in more foliage and less flowers, so it's best to use a fertilizer blend designed specifically for roses.
Gardeners living in subzero zones need to protect their container roses over winter. Plants should be allow to go dormant, then moved to an unheated (frost-free) basement or garage where temperatures stay between 40 F and 50 F. Containers should be watered every 1-2 months to prevent them from completely drying out.
Gardeners without access to an unheated basement or garage can protect their roses by dropping a tomato cage over the plants, wrapping the containers in an old blanket, filling it up with leaves or straw, and moving the containers to a sheltered area next to a building or underneath a porch. Save any maintenance pruning for spring so that plants have access to all available nutrients during the winter.
By Ellen Brown
All plants have their specific needs and roses can be especially tricky. There are many things to consider, including how and when you choose your plants, the make-up of your soil, your planting method, and the manner in which you care for them. In selecting roses there are a few practices to follow that will increase your chances for success. Although bare-root roses are cheaper than potted ones, potted roses have a better survival rate and are easier to plant. Also, older rose varieties and roses that have maintained their original rootstock tend to be hardiest. Roses should be planted in late spring-early summer in order to give the plant time to develop a strong root system before the winter begins.
You need to plant your roses in good soil-rich earth. Too much clay, sand, or rock will hinder the development of your plant. It is especially important to establish and maintain the correct pH level in your soil. Buy an accurate test kit (inexpensive kits are inaccurate) to measure whether your soil is acidic, neutral or alkaline.
The scale of measurement for pH is from 0 (extremely acidic) to 14 (extremely alkaline) with 7 being the neutral measurement. The perfect pH for roses is 6.5, although the plants will do well with a soil pH between 5.5 and 7.
Your soil's pH level, which should be measured and adjusted in the early spring before planting, can be changed by using organic materials such as humus, which will increase the soil's water and nutrient holding capacity, the soil's reserve of slow release nutrients, and the soil's resistance to pH change.
Roses need room; be sure to check on how much your variety will require. Generally, miniatures should be planted a foot apart, hybrid teas, grandifloras, and floribundas 18 to 30 inches apart, and climbers from 8 to 12 feet apart.
 Roses add beauty and grace to any garden. |
The hole for your rose bush should be 2 1/2 times the size of the root-ball. Be sure to put compost into the bottom of the hole and to mix compost with the soil you'll return with the plant. When placing the rose bulb in the hole carefully pack the soil and compost mix under and around the root-ball. To insure proper growth the soil on top of the root-ball should be level with the ground.
Proper care of your roses will give them the best chance for survival. The best time to water your roses is early morning or late afternoon. A good, deep root soaking of about four to five gallons of water once a week is usually best. If you're in an extremely dry region then watering in this manner every three to four days is recommended.
Mulching, adding plant material such as dead leaves and grass to the topsoil around your roses, will increase water retention, enrich the soil, and lead to humus creation. This organic practice will keep your roses healthy and strong.
Roses add beauty and grace to any garden. Whether you plant one rose bush or many varieties, you'll want to follow the simple but important steps outlined above. They'll help insure that you'll have beautiful, flowering plants for years to come.
By Ellen Brown
I was given two roses for a present. I planted them in the garden and gave them some Tomatorite fertilizer. The next day the leaves and buds had dropped off. Have I killed them or will they recover?
By John
How do you care for roses? I tried using plant food and sunlight from the window sill. I applied spray plant food to plant, not soil. The plant is beginning to wither, what am I missing?
By Loleini
By lgsiy04/18/2011Growing roses indoors is harder than alot of plants but it can be done. One of the first things to do is grow in a sandier media than normal roses like water but don't like to stay wet. You have to give them at least 6hrs. of sun a day for the best performance ( maybe even a plant light ) and some good air circulation, roses like orchids like a good amount of air circulation and that's what most people don't think of as a plant requirement. Good Luck!
How do I prepare the soil for growing scented roses and keep them safe? They are not climbing, but grow free standing outside.
By Gerald
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Growing Roses in Containers